Richard Spontak

Bio

Dr. Richard J. Spontak is a Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Professor of Materials Science & Engineering. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University and UC Berkeley, respectively. After post-doctoral appointments at the University of Cambridge (U.K.) and the Institute for Energy Technology (Norway), he first joined the Procter & Gamble Company and later NC State, where he presently supervises the Macromolecular Materials & Morphology Group. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal papers and over 35 scholarly works as book chapters and invited monographs. His primary research interests relate to the phase behavior and morphology/property development of nanostructured polymers with an emphasis on stimuli-responsive soft materials. His work on rapid, broad-spectrum, self-sterilizing antimicrobial polymers has introduced a revolutionary infection-prevention paradigm that has already been commercially implemented by Delta Air Lines. In recognition of his research at NC State, he has received the Alexander Q. Holladay Medal for Excellence, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research & Extension, the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award, and the Alumni Outstanding Research Award. In addition, he has received the Institution of Chemical Engineers Underwood Medal and Global Research Project Award, the American Chemical Society [ACS] (PMSE Division) Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings, the Society of Polymer Science Japan International Award, the ACS (Rubber Division) Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award, and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining [IOM3] Colwyn Medal. An elected fellow of the American Physical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, IOM3, and the ACS (PMSE Division), he was named the Lars Onsager Professor at the Norwegian University of Science & Technology, and is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences and the NC State Research Leadership, Global Engagement and Outstanding Teaching Academies.